pierced.

murder born of vengeance

Hi?

Hi. I, Syahirah, now share this blog with Haaziq. So I do most of the updating since the boy is too lazy to even switch on his computer. Haha, k welcome.

title: vitoria school turning co-ed?? NO WAY!!

"A victorian is ultimately a fair lady, a sportswoman and a professional". Wait a minute. Something is wrong. Isn't it supposed to be "a gentleman" and "sportsman" instead of "a fair lady" and "sportswoman"?

For many years already, this motto which encapsulates the essence of being a Victorian has been a mantra uttered frequently with its equally popular counterpart Nil Sine Labore, which stands for nothing without labour. However, amidst its frantic preparation for the upcoming examinations, the student body is appalled to receive news that our motto, by now embedded quite fondly in our hearts, might well be altered, figuratively if not literally, in the near future. In the local newspaper the Newpaper, it is speculated that the fine institution that is Victoria School might become co-ed very soon. What was more disheartening than this piece of information was the fact that we the student body, got wind of it not from the school administration but from a public newspaper! I personally feel that this pressing issue must be addressed immediately, lest the imminent dissipation of the Victorian spirit.

Firstly, it is only appropriate that the school administration consult the student body first, perhaps through a survey, before suggesting any changes. As quoted from Mr Maran, "a school is only as good as its students". I believe we have a right to have a say in any school affair, especially one as drastic as this. As such, petitions ranging from present Victorians to ex-Victorians, most prominently the 2004 secondary4 batch, which had done our school proud with their excellent 'O' Level results last year, have been written voicing their displeasure and shock over the news that their beloved school is turning co-ed, which to us, is the school's equivalent of turning gay.

I assume that the reason behind the school administration even considering this notion in the first place is because its foresight is clouded by its desperate want to ensure stability in our academics through IP and thus its views are geared towards the positive aspects of this proposition and in the process fail to consider the ripples of dissent and the negative consequences that would ensue. I did take notice of the concerns over the fact that there the are no girls' schools affiliated to Victoria Junior College and thus girls might appear less able to attain entry as compared to Victoria School students. However, we must realise that there are some secondary schools in Singapore which are not affiliated to any colleges at all, much less have an IP program, yet they are still considered having equal entry probability and opportunities. I feel that entry to Junior College ultimately depends on one's personal determination and effort and we should not rely solely on petty means like affiliation or DSA.

Some teachers or maybe even Victorians(probably at an intense stage of hormonal development) feel that it would be a refreshing change with girls in the school. Teachers might have the preconceived notion that girls are much easier to manage than crude and playful teenage boys. As for those Victorians who selfishly support the idea of a co-ed VS, I think they just relish the prospect of having girls in the schools, saving them the trouble of stepping out of their comfort zones to widen their social circles. We must, however, consider that the introduction of girls into our school will result in its own fair share of problems. Though not as rowdy as boys, girls tend to be talkative in class as well, maybe even more so than boys. Handling them might not necessarily be a piece of cake for the teachers. Regarding the latter issue, I think that despite our school being all guys, the Victorians through the years have still been able to attain high standing in their social ladder, so we must not assume that being deprived of girls in the school for four years would result in Victorians becoming lonesome figures in the future. We must instead, focus on more important aspects such as our studies and Co-curricular activities(CCA).

One important thing to note also is that the top schools in Singapore are mostly NOT co-ed. Though this does not necessarily advocate the idea that just because the school is single-sexed it will do well academically, I believe that changing the system would spark off a chain reaction of events that would affect Victoria School's academic and CCA standings adversely and thus undermine our inherent superiority in these areas. Although girls are apparently smarter and more hardworking than boys and might prove useful in pushing our standards higher, I feel that boys in our tender age of 13-16 should not be given the opportunity to be distracted from our utmost priorities, our studies. Moreover, it is hard to impart our traditions and cheers that evoke the masculinity present in the Victorian Spirit to girls and this is what deters me most from accepting such a change. Victoria School will never be the same if it is not all boys. I think even Mr Chia, our operations manager, would not be pleased in having to tone down on his scolding to cater to the sensitive nature of the female gender.

I don't think any true blue Victorian would like to see our beloved school turning co-ed. It might not be of too much effect on me since i only hav two years left here but it is said that"once a Victorian, always a Victorian" and I believe that I should play my part for the school by going against this decision. wish to sincerely urge the school administration and the Old Victorians' Associations(OVA) or anyone at all who have an attachment to the school to think twice about allowing it to be co-ed in order to preserve its well-being and traditions.

If they so insist on making it co-ed, I hope they change the school name to Siglap Link Secondary to mark the end of the fine institution. I wish to be associated with the original Victoria School and not the monstrous apparition before me when I imagine it as a mixed school. To me there is only one Victoria School...and it is NOT co-ed.

// Thursday, September 6, 2007, 7:31 PM